U.S. patent application number 14/333588 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-06 for symbol reading system with integrated scale base.
The applicant listed for this patent is METROLOGIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Henri Jozef Maria Barten.
Application Number | 20140326787 14/333588 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45554549 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140326787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barten; Henri Jozef Maria |
November 6, 2014 |
SYMBOL READING SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED SCALE BASE
Abstract
A symbol-reading system includes a system housing having a
horizontal housing portion and a vertical housing portion, the
vertical housing portion being configured substantially orthogonal
to the horizontal housing portion. The symbol-reading system also
includes a symbol reading subsystem, disposed in the system
housing, for reading symbols on objects and producing data
representative of the read symbols. Additionally, the
symbol-reading system includes a weigh scale subsystem including at
least one load cell that supports the entirety of the system
housing, the weigh scale subsystem being configured for measuring
the weight of objects on the system housing and producing data
representative of measured weights.
Inventors: |
Barten; Henri Jozef Maria;
(Lommel, BE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
METROLOGIC INSTRUMENTS, INC. |
Blackwood |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45554549 |
Appl. No.: |
14/333588 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13019439 |
Feb 2, 2011 |
8789757 |
|
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14333588 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/383 ;
235/462.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 9/046 20130101;
G01G 21/22 20130101; G01G 21/30 20130101; G06K 7/0004 20130101;
G06K 7/1096 20130101; G06K 7/10544 20130101; G01G 19/4144 20130101;
G06Q 20/208 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/383 ;
235/462.13 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/10 20060101
G06K007/10; G01G 19/414 20060101 G01G019/414 |
Claims
1. A symbol-reading system, comprising: a system housing
comprising: a horizontal housing portion comprising a window; a
vertical housing portion comprising a window, the vertical housing
portion being configured substantially orthogonal to the horizontal
housing portion; a symbol reading subsystem, disposed in the system
housing, for reading symbols on objects within a reading volume
defined relative to the vertical housing portion's window and the
horizontal housing portion's window and producing data
representative of the read symbols; and a weigh scale subsystem
comprising at least one load cell that supports the entirety of the
system housing, the weigh scale subsystem being configured for
measuring the weight of objects on the system housing and producing
data representative of measured weights; wherein the symbol reading
subsystem is configured for projecting illumination and imaging
planes to read symbols on objects within the reading volume.
2. The symbol-reading system of claim 1, wherein the illumination
and imaging planes comprise coplanar illumination and imaging
planes.
3. The symbol-reading system of claim 1, wherein the symbol reading
subsystem is configured for projecting illumination and imaging
planes through the vertical housing portion's window and the
horizontal housing portion's window.
4. The symbol-reading system of claim 1, wherein the weigh scale
subsystem comprises four load cells beneath four corners of the
system housing.
5. The symbol-reading system of claim 1, wherein the symbol reading
subsystem is configured for projecting laser scanning planes to
read symbols on objects within a scanning volume defined relative
to the vertical housing portion's window and the horizontal housing
portion's window.
6. The symbol-reading system of claim 5, wherein the laser scanning
planes comprise an omni-directional laser scanning pattern within
the scanning volume.
7. A symbol-reading system, comprising: a system housing
comprising: a horizontal housing portion comprising a window; a
vertical housing portion comprising a window, the vertical housing
portion being configured substantially orthogonal to the horizontal
housing portion; a symbol reading subsystem, disposed in the system
housing, for reading symbols on objects within a reading volume
defined relative to the vertical housing portion's window and the
horizontal housing portion's window and producing data
representative of the read symbols; and a weigh scale subsystem
comprising at least one load cell that supports the entirety of the
system housing, the weigh scale subsystem being configured for
measuring the weight of objects on the system housing and producing
data representative of measured weights.
8. The symbol-reading system of claim 1, wherein the weigh scale
subsystem comprises four load cells beneath four corners of the
system housing.
9. The symbol-reading system of claim 1, wherein the symbol reading
subsystem is configured for projecting illumination and imaging
planes through the vertical housing portion's window.
10. The symbol-reading system of claim 9, wherein the illumination
and imaging planes comprise coplanar illumination and imaging
planes.
11. The symbol-reading system of claim 1, wherein the symbol
reading subsystem is configured for projecting laser scanning
planes to read symbols on objects within a scanning volume defined
relative to the vertical housing portion's window and the
horizontal housing portion's window.
12. A symbol-reading system, comprising: a system housing
comprising a horizontal housing portion and a vertical housing
portion, the vertical housing portion being configured
substantially orthogonal to the horizontal housing portion; a
symbol reading subsystem, disposed in the system housing, for
reading symbols on objects and producing data representative of the
read symbols; and a weigh scale subsystem comprising at least one
load cell that supports the entirety of the system housing, the
weigh scale subsystem being configured for measuring the weight of
objects on the system housing and producing data representative of
measured weights.
13. The symbol-reading system of claim 12, wherein the weigh scale
subsystem comprises four load cells beneath four corners of the
system housing.
14. The symbol-reading system of claim 12, wherein: the vertical
housing portion comprises a window; and the symbol reading
subsystem is configured for projecting illumination and imaging
planes to read symbols on objects within an imaging volume defined
relative to the vertical housing portion's window.
15. The symbol-reading system of claim 14, wherein the illumination
and imaging planes comprise coplanar illumination and imaging
planes.
16. The symbol-reading system of claim 14, wherein: the horizontal
housing portion comprises a window; and the symbol reading
subsystem is configured for projecting illumination and imaging
planes through the horizontal housing portion's window to read
symbols on objects within the imaging volume.
17. The symbol-reading system of claim 12, wherein: the vertical
housing portion comprises a window; and the symbol reading
subsystem is configured for projecting laser scanning planes to
read symbols on objects within a scanning volume defined relative
to the vertical housing portion's window.
18. The symbol-reading system of claim 17, wherein the laser
scanning planes comprise an omni-directional laser scanning pattern
within the scanning volume.
19. The symbol-reading system of claim 12, wherein: the vertical
housing portion comprises a window; the horizontal housing portion
comprises a window; and the symbol reading subsystem is configured
for projecting laser scanning planes to read symbols on objects
within a scanning volume defined relative to the vertical housing
portion's window and the horizontal housing portion's window.
20. The symbol-reading system of claim 12, wherein the weigh scale
subsystem is integrated into the system housing.
21. The symbol-reading system of claim 12, wherein the weigh scale
subsystem comprises a touch-screen display panel for facilitating a
user's selection of items to be weighed and displaying price and
weight information.
22. The symbol-reading system of claim 12, wherein the weigh scale
subsystem comprises a display panel mounted on a customer-facing
side of the system.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/019,439 for a POS-Based Code Symbol Reading
System with Integrated Scale Base and System Housing Having an
Improved Produce Weight Capturing Surface Design filed Feb. 2, 2011
(and published Aug. 2, 2012 as U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 2012/0193407), now U.S. Pat. No. 8,789,757. Each of the
foregoing patent application, patent publication, and patent is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to improvements in
methods of and apparatus for weighing produce items at
point-of-sale (POS) environments.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In demanding retail environments, such as supermarkets and
high-volume department stores, where high check-out throughput is
critical to achieving store profitability and customer
satisfaction, it is common to use laser scanning bar code reading
systems having both bottom and side-scanning windows to enable
highly aggressive scanner performance. In such systems, the cashier
need only drag a bar coded product past these scanning windows for
the bar code thereon to be automatically read with minimal
assistance of the cashier or checkout personal. Such dual scanning
window systems are typically referred to as "bioptical" laser
scanning systems as such systems employ two sets of optics disposed
behind the bottom and side-scanning windows thereof. Examples of
polygon-based bioptical laser scanning systems are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,229,588; 4,652,732 and 6,814,292; each
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Commercial
examples of bioptical laser scanners include: the PSC 8500-6-sided
laser based scanning by PSC Inc.; PSC 8100/8200, 5-sided laser
based scanning by PSC Inc.; the NCR 7876--6-sided laser based
scanning by NCR; the NCR7872, 5-sided laser based scanning by NCR;
and the MS232x Stratos.RTM.H, and MS2122 Stratos.RTM. E Stratos 6
sided laser based scanning systems by Metrologic Instruments, Inc.,
and the MS2200 Stratos.RTM.S 5-sided laser based scanning system by
Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
[0004] Most bi-optical laser scanning systems have integrated
weight scales for measuring the weight of produce items during
checkout operations. It is estimated that approximately 5% of the
produce items found in supermarkets are oversized and therefore
require either a larger weighing surface or other means to ensure
the correct "full" weight is captured. When all of the weight is
not captured for a weigh transaction, the retailer can lose money.
This is referred to in the industry as "shrinkage loss". In this
day and age retailers looking to reduce losses and cost and are
focusing at the front end check out. Retailers are paying more
attention to front end "shrinkage" and expecting their
scanner/scales to provide a means to address weighing of oversized
produce.
[0005] In the mid 1990's, PSC introduced its All-Weighs.TM.
solution with their Magellan SL 5-sided scanner. The ALL-Weighs
solution was carried over to their 8100, 8200, 8500 and 9500
scanner/scale models. Basically the vertical outer window and
horizontal weigh platter are connected and essentially one
assembly. Thus, the operators are encouraged to lean or position an
oversized produce item against the vertical window. The perceived
advantage of this solution is that the operator will recognize an
oversized produce item and place the item against the vertical
window and capture all the weight. This is not always possible
since many front-end checkout counters incorporate a POS keyboard
above the scanner/scale vertical section. There may be insufficient
clearance above the vertical window and placing a large produce
item against the vertical window may not be possible for fear of
interference with the keyboard. Another disadvantage of the
ALL-Weighs solution is that oversized produce (e.g. watermelon and
squash) can come in round shapes that do not easily stay positioned
on the All-Weighs platter. In addition the physical act of
positioning a large variable weight item away from the cashier is
counter-intuitive and is not ergonomically safe in respect to the
operator body position and stress on the lower back.
[0006] While these systems offer improvements in produce weight
capture, they suffer from the disadvantage that not all housing
surfaces are effectively utilized during product weigh capture, and
also that debris builds up between platter and housing, and around
the load cell of the electronic weigh scale subsystem, requiring
regular cleaning or resulting eventually in a malfunctioning weigh
system.
[0007] As an alternative to PSC's All-Weigh Solution, Metrologic
has introduced a line of bi-optical scanner/scales which offer two
different scanner-dependent solutions which offer a quick and
intuitive method of weighing oversized produce items.
[0008] In the first solution, the MS2320 StratosH 6-sided
scanner/scale incorporates a produce weigh/roll bar that serves two
functions. The weigh/roll bar prevents products or produce from
rolling off the scanning/weighing surface. The produce weigh/roll
bar can be used to lean, or place oversized produce, in order to
capture the full weight. The weigh/roll bar solution incorporated
within Metrologic's StratosH 6-sided solution.
[0009] In the second solution, the StratosS MS2220 features a flip
up bar as a means of weighing oversized produce. The flip up bar is
normally in a "down" position resting within the platter stainless
top plate. When an oversized produce item is encountered, the
cashier uses his or her finger tip to lift up the bar to its "up"
position where the produce can be rested to capture the full
weight.
[0010] While these systems offer improvements in produce weight
capture, they also suffer from the disadvantage that not all system
housing surfaces are effectively utilized during product weigh
capture, and also that debris builds up between platter and
housing, and around the load cell of the electronic weigh scale
subsystem, requiring regular cleaning or resulting eventually in a
malfunctioning weigh system.
[0011] While various integrated weigh-scale solutions are currently
available to weigh oversized produce and minimize shrinkage, there
is still a great need in the art for an improved system and method
which avoids the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art systems
and methodologies.
SUMMARY
[0012] Accordingly, a primary object of the present disclosure is
to provide an improved optical scanner with an integrated
weigh-scale for use in POS environments, which is free of the
shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art systems and
methodologies.
[0013] Another object is to provide a point of sale (POS) based
system for optically reading code symbols on objects and weighing
produce items in retail store environments.
[0014] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide such
a POS-based system, wherein an electronic weigh scale subsystem is
integrated into a code symbol reading systems.
[0015] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a
unique system housing having an improved produce weight capturing
surface design, which allows the system operator (e.g. cashier)
more options and greater flexibility when weighing produce items at
the POS checkout station.
[0016] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide such
a POS-based system with a convex weigh surface that is integrated
with the vertical portion of the system housing portion, for
supporting the weight of produce items supported thereon during
weighing operations.
[0017] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide such
a POS-based system with an electronic weigh scale subsystem
including a base portion having a plurality of load cells for (i)
supporting a support frame and a system housing supported thereon,
(ii) measuring the weight of produce items supported on the system
housing, including produce items supported on or against the
reading window(s) and produce items supported on the convex weigh
surface, and (iii) producing data representative of the weight
measurement of the produce items.
[0018] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide such
a POS-based system, wherein the code symbol reader is a digital
imaging code symbol reader, and wherein one or more imaging windows
are formed in the system housing.
[0019] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide such
a POS-based system, wherein the code symbol reader is a laser
scanning code symbol reader, and wherein one or more scanning
windows are formed in the system housing.
[0020] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a
POS-based scanning/scale system, wherein an electronic weigh scale
subsystem is integrated into a code symbol reading system in a
manner allowing all system housing surfaces to be effectively used
during produce weight capture, while allowing debris to fall beside
the POS-based system and be collected on a debris platter or drawer
supported beneath the system, within the countertop furniture at
the POS station.
[0021] These and other objects will become apparent hereinafter and
in the Claims appended hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] In order to more fully understand the Objects, the following
Detailed Description of the Illustrative Embodiments should be read
in conjunction with the accompanying figure Drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a retail point of sale
(POS) station employing a POS-based digital imaging system having
an integrated electronic weight scale (i.e. POS-based
imaging/weighing system) installed in the countertop surface of the
POS station;
[0024] FIG. 1B is a first perspective view of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system shown removed from its POS environment in
FIG. 1A, showing (i) produce weigh tray integrated into the top
surface portion of the vertical housing section of the system, (ii)
a multifunctional LCD-based touch-screen allowed to display produce
weight, weight unit of measurement, product information, price
information to the cashier, and collecting cashier input from
dynamically projected choices with the touch of a finger; and (iii)
optional aperture slots formed in the vertical and horizontal
imaging windows, through which coplanar illumination and imaging
planes are projected into the 3D imaging volume defined between
these two imaging windows;
[0025] FIG. 1C1 is a perspective customer-facing view of a first
illustrative embodiment of the POS-based imaging/weighing system of
FIG. 1B, showing an angle adjustable LCD-based produce weight
display panel supported on a countertop surface at a POS station,
displaying produce weight, weight unit of measurement, product
information, price information to the customer during produce
weighing operations at the POS station, and when not the system is
not performing produce weighing operations, the LCD-based produce
weight display panel displays a scale zero indication, and
optionally, displaying product information and price information
when bar code symbols on products are being read, and not weight
measuring operations are being performed;
[0026] FIG. 1C2 is a perspective customer-facing view of a second
illustrative embodiment of the POS-based imaging/weighing system of
FIG. 1B, showing an angle adjustable LCD-based produce weight
display panel integrated into the rear surface of the system
housing, displaying produce weight, weight unit of measurement,
product information, price information to the customer during
produce weighing operations at the POS station, and when the system
is not performing produce weighing operations, the LCD-based
produce weight display panel displays a scale zero indication, and
optionally, displaying product information and price information
when bar code symbols on products are being read, and not weight
measuring operations are being performed;
[0027] FIG. 1D is an exploded top perspective view of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1B, showing its system housing and
subassembly lifted off the four weight-bearing self centering
corner posts provided on the base platform of the electronic scale
subsystem;
[0028] FIG. 1E is an exploded side view of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1B, showing its system housing and
subassembly lifted off the four weight-bearing self centering
corner posts provided on the base platform of the electronic scale
subsystem;
[0029] FIG. 1F is an exploded underneath perspective view of the
POS-based imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1B, showing its system
housing and subassembly lifted off the four weight-bearing corner
posts provided on the base platform of the electronic scale
subsystem;
[0030] FIG. 1G is a side partially cut-away view of one of the
weight-bearing self centering corner posts provided on the base
platform of the electronic scale subsystem employed in the
POS-based imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1B;
[0031] FIG. 1H1 is a perspective view of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1B, showing the debris collection
feature of the system;
[0032] FIG. 1H2 is a cross-sectional cut-away end view of the
POS-based imaging/weighing system of FIGS. 1B and 1H1, showing the
debris collection tray of the system, beneath the support frame of
the system mounted beneath the countertop surface;
[0033] FIG. 1H3 is a cross-sectional cut-away end view of the
POS-based imaging/weighing system of FIGS. 1B, 1H1 and 1H2, showing
the debris collection tray of the system, beneath the support frame
of the system mounted beneath the countertop surface;
[0034] FIG. 2A is a block schematic representation of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, wherein a complex
of coplanar illuminating and linear imaging stations provided
within the system housing support (i) automatic image formation and
capture of products bearing bar code symbols intersected by any one
or more of a complex of coplanar illumination and imaging planes
projected within the 3D imaging volume of the system, and (ii)
imaging-based object motion/velocity sensing and intelligent
automatic illumination control within the 3D imaging volume;
[0035] FIG. 2B is a block schematic representation of one of the
coplanar illumination and imaging stations employed in the
POS-based imaging/weighing system of FIGS. 1A and 1B, showing its
planar illumination array (PLIA), its linear image formation and
detection subsystem, its image capturing and buffering subsystem,
its high-speed imaging based object motion/velocity detecting (i.e.
sensing) subsystem, and its local control subsystem;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram describing an exemplary
embodiment of a computing and memory architecture platform used in
implementing the POS-based imaging/weighing system described in
FIGS. 1A through 2B;
[0037] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1A, shown supporting produce items
during a first weighing operation;
[0038] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1B, shown supporting produce items
during a second weighing operation;
[0039] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the POS-based
imaging/weighing system of FIG. 1B, shown supporting produce items
during a third weighing operation;
[0040] FIG. 4D1 is a schematic representation of a graphical user
interface (GUI) screen that is displayed on the cashier LCD
price/weight display panel, and customer LCD price/weight display
panel, when the cashier is scanning regular bar coded products at
the POS station;
[0041] FIG. 4D2 is a schematic representation of a GUI screen that
is displayed on the cashier LCD price/weight display panel when the
customer touches the screen, and then selects a product group (e.g.
fruits) to be subsequently displayed on the GUI screen, from which
the cashier can then select the produce item to be weighed;
[0042] FIG. 4D3 is a schematic representation of a GUI screen that
is displayed on the cashier LCD price/weight display panel when the
customer selects the product group "fruit" during the step shown in
FIG. 4D2;
[0043] FIG. 4D4 is a schematic representation of a GUI screen that
is displayed on the cashier LCD price/weight display panel when the
customer selects the product item "lemon" during the step shown in
FIG. 4D3, showing a cashier using a navigation down button to
scroll down to select "Lemons Meyer/Orange", and then presses ENTER
to select, but alternatively the cashier has the option to start
typing LEMONS on the virtual keyboard, and after pressing `1`
display all fruits starting with `L` when pressing `e` he sees all
"fruits" starting with `LE` etc. (and selecting BACKSPACE erases
entries, and a back space after the last character has been erased,
brings you to the previous screen;
[0044] FIG. 4D5 is a schematic representation of a GUI screen that
is displayed on the cashier LCD price/weight display panel, and the
customer LCD price/weigh display panel, before the customer places
the selected product item on an scale weigh surface provided by the
system, showing the customer the unit price per gross weight
measured by the system;
[0045] FIG. 4D6 is a schematic representation of a GUI screen that
is displayed on the cashier LCD price/weight display panel, and the
customer LCD price/weigh display panel, when the customer places
the selected product item on an scale weigh surface provided by the
system, the scale weights the produce item and automatically
calculates and displays the total purchase price on the display
panel;
[0046] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a retail POS station
employing a POS-based laser and or imaging scanning system having
an integrated electronic weight scale (i.e. POS-based
scanning/weighing system) installed in or on the countertop surface
of the POS station;
[0047] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, showing (i) produce weigh tray
integrated into the top surface portion of the vertical housing
section of the system, (ii) a LCD-based touch-screen produce price
and weight display panel allowing the cashier to select produce
items and prices and display produce price and weight information
on the customers LCD-based produce weight/price display panel, with
the touch of a finger; and (iii) vertical and horizontal scanning
windows, through which a complex of laser and/or imaging scanning
planes are projected into a 3D scanning volume defined between
these two scanning windows;
[0048] FIG. 5C is a side view of the POS-based scanning/weighing
system of FIG. 5A;
[0049] FIG. 5D is a customer-facing view of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, showing the customer's
LCD-based produce weight/price display panel;
[0050] FIG. 5E is a cashier-facing view of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, showing the cashier's
LCD-based produce weight/price display panel;
[0051] FIG. 5F is an exploded top perspective view of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, showing its system housing and
subassembly lifted off the four weight-bearing corner posts
provided on the base platform of the electronic scale
subsystem;
[0052] FIG. 5G is an exploded side perspective view of the
POS-based scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, showing its system
housing and subassembly lifted off the four weight-bearing corner
posts provided on the base platform of the electronic scale
subsystem;
[0053] FIG. 5H is an exploded underneath perspective view of the
POS-based scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, showing its system
housing and subassembly lifted off the four weight-bearing corner
posts provided on the base platform of the electronic scale
subsystem;
[0054] FIG. 6 is a block schematic representation of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, wherein a pair of laser and/or
imaging scanning stations support automatic laser and/or imaging
scanning of products and produce items bearing bar code symbols
being transported through a 3D scanning volume defined between the
vertical and horizontal scanning windows of the system;
[0055] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, shown supporting produce items
during a first weighing operation;
[0056] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 7B, shown supporting produce items
during a second weighing operation; and
[0057] FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system of FIG. 5A, shown supporting produce items
during a third weighing operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0058] Referring to the figures in the accompanying Drawings, the
various illustrative embodiments of the apparatus and methodologies
will be described in great detail, wherein like elements will be
indicated using like reference numerals.
[0059] An integrated electronic weigh scale subsystem is integrated
into digital-imaging and laser-scanning based code symbol reading
systems, having a unique system housing with an improved produce
weight capturing surface design, and system architecture which
provides a debris collection subsystem, which will be described and
illustrated in greater technical detail hereinafter.
[0060] Specification of an Illustrative Embodiment of a POS-Based
Imaging/Weighing System
[0061] As shown in FIG. 1B, the POS-based imaging/weighing system
10 includes a system housing 11 having a horizontal or bottom
housing portion 11A with a horizontal optically transparent (glass)
imaging window 12A, and a vertical or upper housing portion 11B
with a vertical optically transparent (glass) imaging window 12B,
arranged in a substantially orthogonal with respect to the
horizontal imaging window 12A. As shown, each imaging window is
covered by an imaging window protection plate 13A, 13B provided
with a pattern of apertures 14A, 14B, respectively, which permit
the projection of a plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging
planes 16 from a complex of coplanar illumination and imaging
stations 15A through 15G installed beneath the system housing 11,
as shown and described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,326
and U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,597, incorporated herein by reference.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 1B, the system housing 11 has a top surface
portion 11C which is parallel to the horizontal imaging window 12A,
and has a convex geometry to support a diverse group of produce
objects within its convex surface geometry, to prevent rolling
thereof, during weighing operations. This surface geometry feature
of the system housing, and its advantages during produce weighing
operations, which will be described and illustrated in greater
detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 1F, the system housing 11 also includes a
support frame 11H supporting the system housing, and having a
plurality of spaced apart support surface 13A through 13D. In the
illustrative embodiment, support frame 11H can also serve as an
optical bench supporting the electro-optical and other components
associated with the coplanar illumination and imaging subsystems
15.
[0064] Also, shown in FIG. 1E the system housing has a planar
flange structure 11D which extends out from a first extreme edge
14A of the system housing, at an adjustable incline angle with
respect to the countertop surface 3 in which the system is mounted.
The purpose of this adjustable planar flange structure is to
accommodate for cashier sitting as well as cashiers of various
lengths standing up while operating the POS system, and support an
LCD-based touch screen produce price/weight display panel 23A, used
by the cashier during checkout operations.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 1, extending from location close to a
second extreme edge 14B of the system housing, parallel to the
first extreme edge 14A, is a smaller planar flange structure 11E,
also adjustably inclined at about a 45 degree with respect to the
countertop surface in which the system is mounted. This planar
flange structure 11E supports a detachable and angle adjustable
LCD-based produce weight display panel 23B for displaying produce
weight, weight unit of measurement, product information, price
information to the customer being weighed by the cashier during
checkout operations by the cashier during checkout operations at
the POS station, as shown in FIGS. 1C2. Also, when the system is
not being operated in its produce weighing operation, the LCD-based
produce weight display panel 23B displays a scale zero indication,
and optionally, displays product information and price information
when reading code symbols on consumer products for which no weight
measurement is required.
[0066] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1C1, the display
panel 23B can be supported in display housing 111F supported on a
pole stand mounted on the countertop adjacent the POS-based system,
for the purpose of displaying price and weight information to the
customer while facing the cashier at the POS-based system.
[0067] In general, the LCD touch-screen display panel 23A will
display "function buttons" on its touch-screen surface, allowing
the cashier to reset and to zero calibrate the integrated
electronic weigh scale subsystem, and allowing maintenance
engineers to access the scale configuration menu. The same display
panel can additionally display buttons for other configurable
functionalities such as adjusting beeper tone, adjusting volume,
and the like.
[0068] Once the integrated code symbol reading subsystem, or an
auxiliary connected hand-held scanner, reads a code symbol related
to a specific produce item, the product identification number
encoded in the code symbol on the product/produce-item is
transmitted to the host system via a retail LAN/WAN. The host
system returns the price, or price per unit weight and product
information. In the event the produce item requires a produce
weight measurement, the system controller automatically triggers
the integrated electronic weigh scale subsystem, and generates an
audible distinctive sound, notifying the cashier. The touch-screen
display panel 23A displays product information and its price per
unit weigh.
[0069] When a non-produce product is scanned, the integrated code
symbol reading subsystem produces price/product information which
is automatically displayed on the cashier's LCD touch-screen
display panel 23A, and on the LCD produce price/weight display
panel 23B, mounted on the customer's side of the POS-based system.
When a produce-item product is scanned, requiring weighing, then
the system produces price/product information which is
automatically displayed on both the cashier's LCD touch-screen
display panel 23A, and the LCD produce price/weight display panel
23B, mounted on the customer's side of the POS-based system. This
dual cashier/customer display functionality ensures that both the
customer and cashier are aware of the price information being used
in the produce weight measurement. It also provides an opportunity
for the cashier and customer to validate that the scale is properly
zero calibrated. Product information can be provided as text only,
but may also include a prerecorded produce image available on the
host system.
[0070] In applications where the POS host system on the store's
LAN/WAN has no price per unit weight information for the produce
item, or the produce item has no code symbol, the POS-based system
optionally allows the cashier's LCD touch-screen display panel 23A
to display a menu structure to retrieve the price per unit for a
produce item or group of produce items. Preferably, the menu
structure comprises (i) graphical icons or representations of a
predefined produce item or produce groups, allowing a narrowing of
the search field criteria, (ii) a soft input panel where, by
entering the alphabetic characters of the produce name, it displays
more relevant predefined records by every character that has been
entered. FIGS. 4D1 through 4D6 illustrate a set of GUI screens that
might be displayed on the LCD touch-screen display panel 23A during
an illustrative embodiment, to realize such a menu structure on the
POS-based system of the present disclosure.
[0071] FIG. 4D1 shows a GUI screen that is displayed on the cashier
LCD price/weight display panel, and customer LCD price/weight
display panel, when the cashier is scanning regular bar coded
products at the POS station. FIG. 4D2 shows a GUI screen that is
displayed on the cashier LCD price/weight display panel when the
customer touches the screen, and then selects a product group (e.g.
fruits) to be subsequently displayed on the GUI screen, from which
the cashier can then select the produce item to be weighed. FIG.
4D3 shows a GUI screen that is displayed on the cashier LCD
price/weight display panel when the customer selects the product
group "fruit" during the step shown in FIG. 4D2. FIG. 4D4 shows a
GUI screen that is displayed on the cashier LCD price/weight
display panel when the customer selects the product item "lemon"
during the step shown in FIG. 4D3. As shown, the a cashier uses a
navigation down button to scroll down to select "Lemons
Meyer/Orange", and then presses ENTER to select, but alternatively
the cashier has the option to start typing LEMONS on the virtual
keyboard, and after pressing `1` display all fruits starting with
`L` when pressing `e` he sees all "fruits" starting with `LE` etc.
(and selecting BACKSPACE erases entries, and a back space after the
last character has been erased, brings you to the previous screen.
FIG. 4D5 shows a GUI screen that is displayed on the cashier LCD
price/weight display panel, and the customer LCD price/weigh
display panel, before the customer places the selected product item
on a scale weigh surface provided by the system, showing the
customer the unit price per gross weight measured by the system.
FIG. 4D6 shows a GUI screen that is displayed on the cashier LCD
price/weight display panel, and the customer LCD price/weigh
display panel, when the customer places the selected product item
on an scale weigh surface provided by the system, the scale weights
the produce item and automatically calculates and displays the
total purchase price on the display panel.
[0072] LCD touch-screen display panel 23A and/or LCD panel 23B can
be realized in many different ways well known in the art.
[0073] Other useful techniques which can be practiced on the
POS-based imaging/weighing system 10 are disclosed is U.S. Pat.
Nos. 7,841,524 and 7,753,269, incorporated herein by reference.
[0074] As shown in the system diagram of FIG. 2A, system 10
generally comprises: a complex of coplanar illuminating and linear
imaging stations (15A through 15G), each constructed using the
illumination arrays and linear image sensing array technology; an
multi-processor multi-channel image processing subsystem 20 for
supporting automatic image processing based bar code symbol reading
and optical character recognition (OCR) along each coplanar
illumination and imaging plane, and corresponding data channel
within the system; a software-based object recognition subsystem
21, for use in cooperation with the image processing subsystem 20,
and automatically recognizing objects (such as vegetables and
fruit) at the retail POS while being imaged by the system; an
electronic weigh scale 22 employing four load cells 23A through 23D
positioned at each corner of a scale base 24, for supporting the
lower portion of the system housing in matched recesses 13A through
13D, for the purpose of rapidly measuring the weight of objects
positioned on the window aperture of the system, on the convex
weigh surface 11C, or against any surface of the system housing,
and automatically generating electronic data representative of
measured weight of the objects; an input/output subsystem 25 for
interfacing with the image processing subsystem 20, the electronic
weight scale 22, RFID reader 26, credit-card reader 27, Electronic
Article Surveillance (EAS) Subsystem 28 (including a
Sensormatic.RTM. EAS tag deactivation block 29 integrated in
system), and an audible/visual information display subsystem (i.e.
module) 300 for visually and/or audibly displaying indications to
assist the cashier in optimizing scanning and checkout speed, and
thus improve worker productivity.
[0075] The primary function of each coplanar illumination and
imaging 15 is to capture digital linear (1D) or narrow-area images
along the field of view (FOV) of its coplanar illumination and
imaging planes using laser or LED-based illumination, depending on
the system design. These captured digital images are then buffered,
and decode-processed using linear (1D) type image capturing and
processing based bar code reading algorithms, or can be assembled
together and buffered to reconstruct 2D images for
decode-processing using 1D/2D image processing based bar code
reading techniques, as taught in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No.
7,028,899 B2, incorporated herein by reference. Also, the complex
of coplanar and/or coextensive illuminating and imaging stations
can be constructed using (i) VLD-based and/or LED-based
illumination arrays and linear and/area type image sensing arrays,
and (ii) real-time object motion/velocity detection technology
embedded within the system architecture. The resulting POS-based
imaging/weighing system 10 enables: (1) intelligent automatic
illumination control within the 3D imaging volume of the system;
(2) automatic image formation and capture along each coplanar
illumination and imaging plane therewithin; (3) weighing of produce
items supported anywhere on the weight-bearing surfaces of the
system housing; and (4) advanced automatic image processing
operations supporting diverse kinds of value-added
information-based services delivered in diverse end-user
environments, including retail POS and industrial environments.
[0076] In general, each coplanar illumination and imaging station
15 is able to automatically change its state of operation from
object motion and velocity detection to bar code reading in
response to automated detection of an object with at least a
portion of the FOV of its coplanar illumination and imaging plane.
By virtue of this feature, each coplanar illumination and imaging
station in the system is able to automatically and intelligently
direct LED or VLD illumination at an object only when and for so
long as the object is detected within the FOV of its coplanar
illumination and imaging plane. This intelligent capacity for local
illumination control maximizes illumination being directed towards
objects to be imaged, and minimizes illumination being directed
towards consumers or the system operator during system operation in
retail store environments, in particular.
[0077] In order to support automated object recognition functions
(e.g. vegetable and fruit recognition) at the POS environment,
image capturing and processing based object recognition subsystem
21 (i.e. including Object Libraries etc.) cooperates with the
multi-channel image processing subsystem 20 so as to (i) manage and
process the multiple channels of digital image frame data generated
by the coplanar illumination and imaging stations 15, (ii) extract
object features from processed digital images, and (iii)
automatically recognize objects at the POS station which are
represented in the Object Libraries of the object recognition
subsystem 21.
[0078] While laser illumination (e.g. VLD) sources have many
advantages for generating coplanar laser illumination planes for
use in the image capture and processing systems (i.e. excellent
power density and focusing characteristics), it is understood that
speckle-pattern noise reduction measures will need to be practiced
in most applications. In connection therewith, the advanced
speckle-pattern noise mitigation methods and apparatus disclosed in
Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,899 B2, incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein, can be used
to substantially reduce speckle-noise power in digital imaging
systems employing coherent illumination sources.
[0079] In contrast, LED-based illumination sources can also be used
as well to generate planar illumination beams (planes) for use in
the image capture and processing systems. Lacking high temporal and
spatial coherence properties, the primary advantage associated with
LED technology is lack of speckle-pattern noise. Some significant
disadvantages with LED technology are the inherent limitations in
focusing characteristics, and power density generation. Many of
these limitations can be addressed in conventional ways to make LED
arrays suitable for use in the digital image capture and processing
systems and methods.
[0080] In some embodiments, it may be desired to use both VLD and
LED based sources of illumination to provide hybrid forms of
illumination within the imaging-based bar code symbol reading
systems.
[0081] In FIG. 2B, the bar code symbol reading module employed
along each channel of the multi-channel image processing subsystem
20 can be realized using SwiftDecoder.RTM. Image Processing Based
Bar Code Reading Software from Omniplanar Corporation, New Jersey,
or any other suitable image processing based bar code reading
software. Also, the system 10 provides full support for (i)
dynamically and adaptively controlling system control parameters in
the digital image capture and processing system, as disclosed and
taught in Applicants' U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,607,581 and 7,464,877 as
well as (ii) permitting modification and/or extension of system
features and function, as disclosed and taught in U.S. Pat. No.
7,708,205, each said patent being incorporated herein by
reference.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 2C, an array of VLDs or LEDS can be focused
with beam shaping and collimating optics so as to concentrate their
output power into a thin illumination plane which spatially
coincides exactly with the field of view of the imaging optics of
the coplanar illumination and imaging station, so very little light
energy is wasted. Each substantially planar illumination beam
(PLIB) can be generated from a planar illumination array (PLIA)
formed by a plurality of planar illumination modules (PLIMs) using
either VLDs or LEDs and associated beam shaping and focusing
optics, taught in greater technical detail in Applicants U.S. Pat.
Nos. 6,898,184, and 7,490,774, each incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. Preferably, each planar illumination
beam (PUB) generated from a PLIM in a PLIA is focused so that the
minimum width thereof occurs at a point or plane which is the
farthest object (or working) distance at which the system is
designed to capture images within the 3D imaging volume of the
system, although this principle can be relaxed in particular
applications to achieve other design objectives.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 2C, each coplanar illumination and imaging
station 15 employed in system 10 comprises: an illumination
subsystem 44 including a linear array of VLDs or LEDs 45 and
associated focusing and cylindrical beam shaping optics (i.e.
planar illumination arrays PLIAs), for generating a planar
illumination beam (PLIB) 61 from the station; a linear image
formation and detection (IFD) subsystem 40 having a camera
controller interface (e.g. realized as a field programmable gate
array or FPGA) for interfacing with the local control subsystem 50,
and a high-resolution linear image sensing array 41 with optics 42
providing a field of view (FOV) 43 on the image sensing array that
is coplanar with the PUB produced by the linear illumination array
45, so as to form and detect linear digital images of objects
within the FOV of the system; a local control subsystem 50 for
locally controlling the operation of subcomponents within the
station, in response to control signals generated by global control
subsystem 37 maintained at the system level, shown in FIG. 2A; an
image capturing and buffering subsystem 48 for capturing linear
digital images with the linear image sensing array 41 and buffering
these linear images in buffer memory so as to form 2D digital
images for transfer to image-processing subsystem 20 maintained at
the system level, as shown in FIG. 3B, and subsequent image
processing according to bar code symbol decoding algorithms, OCR
algorithms, and/or object recognition processes; a high-speed image
capturing and processing based motion/velocity sensing subsystem 49
for motion and velocity data to the local control subsystem 50 for
processing and automatic generation of control data that is used to
control the illumination and exposure parameters of the linear
image formation and detection system within the station. Details
regarding the design and construction of planar illumination and
imaging module (PLIIMs) can be found in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No.
7,028,899 B2, incorporated herein by reference.
[0084] In an illustrative embodiment, the high-speed image
capturing and processing based motion/velocity sensing subsystem 49
may comprise the following components: an area-type image
acquisition subsystem with an area-type image sensing array and
optics for generating a field of view (FOV) that is preferably
spatially coextensive with the longer dimensions of the FOV 43 of
the linear image formation and detection subsystem 40; an area-type
(IR) illumination array for illuminating the FOV of motion/velocity
detection subsystem 49; and an embedded digital signal processing
(DSP) image processor, for automatically processing 2D images
captured by the digital image acquisition subsystem. The DSP image
processor processes captured images so as to automatically
abstract, in real-time, motion and velocity data from the processed
images and provide this motion and velocity data to the local
control subsystem 50 for the processing and automatic generation of
control data that is used to control the illumination and exposure
parameters of the linear image formation and detection system
within the station.
[0085] In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B,
each image capturing and processing based motion/velocity sensing
subsystem 49 continuously and automatically computes the motion and
velocity of objects passing through the planar FOV of the station,
and uses this data to generate control signals that set the
frequency of the clock signal used to read out data from the linear
image sensing array 41 employed in the linear image formation and
detection subsystem 40 of the system. The versions of the image
capturing and processing based motion/velocity sensing subsystem 49
are schematically illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,424
incorporated herein by reference.
[0086] The image capturing and processing based motion/velocity
detection subsystem 49 employs either a linear-type or area-type of
image sensing array to capture images of objects passing through
the FOV of the image formation and detection subsystem. Then,
DSP-based image processor computes motion and velocity data
regarding object(s) within the FOV of the linear image formation
and detection (IFD) subsystem 40, and this motion and velocity data
is then provided to the local subsystem controller 50 so that it
can generate (i.e. compute) control data for controlling the
frequency of the clock signal used in reading data out of the
linear image sensing array of the image formation and detection
subsystem. The frequency control algorithm described in U.S. Pat.
No. 7,540,424, supra, can be used to control the clock frequency of
the linear image sensing array 41 employed in the IFD subsystem 40
of the system.
[0087] When any one of the coplanar illumination and imaging
stations is configured in its object motion/velocity detection
state, there is the need to illuminate to control the illumination
that is incident upon the image sensing array employed within the
object motion/velocity detector subsystem 49. In general, there are
several ways to illuminate objects during the object
motion/detection mode (e.g. ambient, laser, LED-based, monochrome,
spectral), and various illumination parameters can be controlled
while illuminating objects being imaged by the image sensing array
41 of the object motion/velocity detection subsystem 49 employed at
any station in the system. Also, given a particular kind of
illumination employed during the object motion/velocity detection
mode, there are various illumination parameters that can be
controlled, namely: illumination intensity (e.g. low-power,
half-power, full power); illumination beam width (e.g. narrow beam
width, wide beam width); and illumination beam thickness (e.g.
small beam thickness, large beam thickness). Based on these
illumination control parameters, several different illumination
control methods can be implemented at each illumination and imaging
station in the system. Such methods are disclosed on detail in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,540,424 and US Publication No. 2008-0283611 A1,
supra.
[0088] FIG. 3 describes an exemplary embodiment of a computing and
memory architecture platform that can be used to implement system
10 described in FIGS. 1B through 2C. As shown, this hardware
computing and memory platform can be realized on a single PC board
58, along with the electro-optics associated with the illumination
and imaging stations and other subsystems, and therefore
functioning as an optical bench as well. As shown, the hardware
platform comprises: at least one, but preferably multiple
high-speed multi-core microprocessors, to provide a multi-processor
architecture having high bandwidth video-interfaces and video
memory and processing support; an FPGA (e.g. Spartan 3) for
managing the digital image streams supplied by the plurality of
digital image capturing and buffering channels, each of which is
driven by a coplanar illumination and imaging station (e.g. linear
CCD or CMOS image sensing array, image formation optics, etc) in
the system; a robust multi-tier memory architecture including DRAM,
Flash Memory, SRAM and even a hard-drive persistence memory in some
applications; arrays of VLDs and/or LEDs, associated beam shaping
and collimating/focusing optics; and analog and digital circuitry
for realizing the illumination subsystem; interface board with
microprocessors and connectors; power supply and distribution
circuitry; as well as circuitry for implementing the others
subsystems employed in the system.
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 4A through 4C, a preferred method of
produce weighing, supported by POS-based imaging/weighing will now
be described in detail.
[0090] It is understood that before the system 10 is deployed into
operation, the weigh scale subsystem 22 is calibrated so that the
weight of the system housing and internal components is zeroed out
and that the weigh scale weight measure reads 00.00 [lbs] or
[grams], depending on the system of measure being employed. Such
calibration techniques are well known in the weigh scale art.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 4A, a produce item of a particular type is
placed on the imaging window 12A of the POS-based imaging/weighing
system 10 during weighing operations. The cashier then selects the
type of produce from the LCD-based touch-screen display screen 23A,
and its price is automatically entered into the system, and then
the electronic weigh scale subsystem 22 automatically measures the
weight of the produce item on the imaging window 12A, and displays
the total weight and price of the measured produce item on the
cashier's LCD touch-screen display panel 23A and the customer's LCD
display panel 23B.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 4B, a produce item of a particular type is
placed on the horizontal imaging window 12A and up against the
vertical imaging window 12B of the system 10 during weighing
operations. The cashier then selects the type of produce from the
LCD-based touch-screen display screen 23A, and its price is
automatically entered into the system. Then the electronic weigh
scale subsystem 22 automatically measures the weight of the produce
item on the imaging window 12A, and displays the total weight and
price of the measured produce item on the cashier's LCD
touch-screen display panel 23A and the customer's LCD display panel
23B.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 4C, a produce item of a particular type is
placed on the convex weigh surface 11C during weighing operations.
The cashier then selects the type of produce from the LCD-based
touch-screen display screen 23A, and its price is automatically
entered into the system, and then the electronic weigh scale
subsystem 22 automatically measures the weight of the produce item
on the convex weigh surface 11C, and displays the total weight and
price of the measured produce item on the cashier's LCD
touch-screen display panel 23A and the customer's LCD display panel
23B.
[0094] Specification of the Illustrative Embodiment of the
POS-Based Scanning/Weighing System
[0095] As shown in FIGS. 5A, the POS-based scanning/weighing system
100 includes a system housing 111 having a horizontal or bottom
housing portion 111A with a horizontal optically transparent
(glass) scanning window 112A, and a vertical or upper housing
portion 111B with a vertical optically transparent (glass) scanning
window 112B, arranged in a substantially orthogonal with respect to
the horizontal imaging window 112A. As shown, each scanning window
permits the projection of a plurality of laser scanning planes from
a pair of laser scanning stations 150A and 150B installed beneath
the system housing, to generate a complex omni-directional laser
scanning pattern within the 3D scanning volume, as shown and
described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,156,
incorporated herein by reference.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 5B, the system housing has a top surface
portion 111C which has a convex geometry to support a diverse group
of produce objects during weighing operations. This feature of the
system housing and its advantages during produce weighing
operations will be described and illustrated in greater detail
hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C.
[0097] As shown in FIG. 5H, the system housing 111 also includes a
support frame 111H supporting the system housing 111, and having a
plurality of spaced apart support surface 113A through 113D. In the
illustrative embodiment, support frame 11H can also serve as an
optical bench supporting the electro-optical and other components
associated with the coplanar illumination and imaging subsystems
150.
[0098] Also, the system housing has a planar flange structure 111D
which extends out from a first extreme edge 114A of the system
housing, at about a 45 degree incline with respect to the
countertop surface, in which the system is mounted, and supports an
LCD-based touch screen produce price/weight display panel 123A,
used by the cashier during checkout operations.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 5C, extending from a location close to a
second extreme edge 114B of the system housing, parallel to the
first extreme edge 114B, is a smaller planar flange structure 111E,
also inclined at about a 45 degree with respect to the countertop
surface in which the system is mounted. This planar flange
structure 111E supports an detachable and angle adjustable
LCD-based produce weight display panel 123B for displaying produce
weight, weight unit of measurement, product information, price
information to the customer being weighed by the cashier during
checkout operations by the cashier during checkout operations at
the POS station. When the system is not involved in weighing
produce items, display panels 123A and 123B display the scale zero
indication, and optionally, display product information and price
information when reading code symbols on consumer product items,
for which no weight measurement is required.
[0100] In an alternative embodiment, the display panel 123B can be
supported in a display housing 11F supported on a pole stand
mounted on the countertop adjacent the POS-based system, to display
price and weight information, as shown in FIG. 1C1.
[0101] In general, the LCD touch-screen display panel 123A will
display "function buttons" on its touch-screen surface, allowing
the cashier to reset and to zero calibrate the integrated
electronic weigh scale subsystem, and allowing maintenance
engineers to access the scale configuration menu. The same display
panel can additionally display buttons for other configurable
functionalities such as adjusting beeper tone, adjusting volume,
and the like.
[0102] Once the integrated code symbol reading subsystem, or an
auxiliary connected hand-held scanner, reads a code symbol related
to a specific produce item, the product identification number
encoded in the code symbol on the product/produce-item is
transmitted to the host system via a retail LAN/WAN. The host
system returns the price, or price per unit weight and product
information. In the event the produce item requires a produce
weight measurement, the system controller automatically triggers
the integrated electronic weigh scale subsystem, and generates an
audible distinctive sound, notifying the cashier. The touch-screen
display panel 123A displays product information and its price per
unit weigh.
[0103] When a non-produce product is scanned, then the integrated
code symbol reading subsystem produces price/product information
which is automatically displayed on the cashier's LCD touch-screen
display panel 123A, and on the LCD produce price/weight display
panel 123B, mounted on the customer's side of the POS-based system.
When a produce-item product is scanned, requiring weighing, then
the system produces price/product information which is
automatically displayed on both the cashier's LCD touch-screen
display panel 123A, and the LCD produce price/weight display panel
123B, mounted on the customer's side of the POS-based system. This
dual cashier/customer display functionality ensures that both the
customer and cashier are aware of the price information being used
in the produce weight measurement. It also provides an opportunity
for the cashier and customer to validate that the scale is properly
zero calibrated. Product information can be provided as text only,
but may also include a prerecorded produce image available on the
host system.
[0104] In applications where the POS host system on the store's
LAN/WAN has no price per unit weight information for the produce
item, or the produce item has no code symbol, the POS-based system
optionally allows the cashier's LCD touch-screen display panel 123A
to display a menu structure to retrieve the price per unit for an
produce item or group of produce items. Preferably, the menu
structure comprises (i) graphical icons or representations of a
predefined produce item or produce groups, allowing a narrowing the
search field criteria, (ii) a soft input panel where, by entering
the alphabetic characters of the produce name, it displays more
relevant predefined records by every character that has been
entered. FIGS. 4D1 through 4D6 illustrates a set of GUI screens
that might be displayed on the LCD touch-screen display panel 1
during an illustrative embodiment, to realize such a menu structure
on the POS-based system of the present disclosure
[0105] LCD touch-screen display panel 123A and/or LCD panel 123B
can be realized in many different ways well known in the art.
[0106] Other useful techniques which can be practiced on the
POS-based scanning/weighing system 100 are disclosed is U.S. Pat.
Nos. 7,841,524 and 7,753,269, incorporated herein by reference.
[0107] As shown in FIG. 6, the POS-based scanning/weighing system
100 comprises: a pair of laser scanning stations (i.e. subsystems)
150A and 150B, for generating and projecting a complex of laser
scanning planes into the 3D scanning volume of the system; a scan
data processing subsystem 120 for supporting automatic processing
of scan data collected from each laser scanning plane in the
system; an electronic weight scale 122 employing four load cells
123A through 123D positioned at each corner of a scale base 124,
for supporting the lower portion of the system housing in matched
recesses 113A through 113D, for the purpose of rapidly measuring
the weight of objects positioned on the window aperture of the
system, on the convex weigh surface 111C, or against any surface of
the system housing, and automatically generating electronic data
representative of measured weight of the objects; an input/output
subsystem 128 for interfacing with the image processing subsystem,
the electronic weight scale 122, RFID reader 126, credit-card
reader 127 and Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Subsystem 128
(including EAS tag deactivation block integrated in system
housing); a wide-area wireless interface (WIFI) 131 including RF
transceiver and antenna 131A for connecting to the TCP/IP layer of
the Internet as well as one or more image storing and processing
RDBMS servers 133 (which can receive images lifted by system for
remote processing by the image storing and processing servers 133);
a BlueTooth.RTM. RF 2-way communication interface 135 including RF
transceivers and antennas 103A for connecting to Blue-tooth.RTM.
enabled hand-held scanners, imagers, PDAs, portable computers 136
and the like, for control, management, application and diagnostic
purposes; and a control subsystem 137 for controlling (i.e.
orchestrating and managing) the operation of the coplanar
illumination and imaging stations (i.e. subsystems), integrated
electronic weight scale 122, and other subsystems.
[0108] In FIG. 6, the bar code symbol reading module employed along
each channel of the scan data processing subsystem 120 can be
realized using conventional bar code reading software well known in
the art. Also, the system provides full support for (i) dynamically
and adaptively controlling system control parameters in the digital
image capture and processing system, as disclosed and taught in
Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,581, as well as (ii) permitting
modification and/or extension of system features and function, as
disclosed and taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,205, supra.
[0109] The IR-based object motion/velocity sensing fields can be
generated in various ways from either the horizontal and/or
vertical scanning windows, using techniques including from a
plurality of IR Pulse-Doppler LIDAR motion/velocity detection
subsystems 140 installed within the system housing. Such subsystem
can be realized using a plurality of IR (Coherent or Incoherent)
Pulse-Doppler LIDAR motion/velocity sensing chips mounted in the
laser scanning station 150A and/or 150B. In the illustrative
embodiments of FIG. 6, three such IR Pulse-Doppler LIDAR
motion/velocity sensing chips (e.g. Philips PLN2020 Twin-Eye 850 nm
IR Laser-Based Motion/Velocity Sensor System in a Package (SIP))
are employed in each laser scanning station in the system. Details
regarding this subsystem are described in US Publication No.
2008/0283611 A1, and corresponding portions of the present Patent
Specification thereof
[0110] Referring to FIG. 7A through 7C, a preferred method of
weighing produce using the POS-based scanning/weighing system 100
will now be described in detail.
[0111] It is understood that before the system is deployed into
operation, the weigh scale subsystem 122 is calibrated so that the
weight of the system housing and internal components is zeroed out
and that the weigh scale weight measure reads 00.00 [lbs] or
[grams] depending on the system of measure being employed. Such
calibration techniques are well known in the weigh scale art.
[0112] As shown in FIG. 7A, a produce item of a particular type is
placed on the scanning window 112A of the POS-based
scanning/weighing system 100 during weighing operations. The
cashier then selects the type of produce from the LCD-based
touch-screen display screen 123A, and its price is automatically
entered into the system, and then the electronic weigh scale
subsystem 122 automatically measures the weight of the produce item
on the scanning window 112A, and displays the total weight and
price of the measured produce item on the cashier's LCD
touch-screen display panel 123A and the customer's LCD display
panel 123B.
[0113] As shown in FIG. 7B, a produce item of a particular type is
placed on the horizontal scanning window 112A and up against the
vertical scanning window 112B of the POS-based scanning/weighing
system 100 during weighing operations. The cashier then selects the
type of produce from the LCD-based touch-screen display screen
123A, and its price is automatically entered into the system. Then
the electronic weigh scale subsystem 122 automatically measures the
weight of the produce item on the scanning window 112A, and
displays the total weight and price of the measured produce item on
the cashier's LCD touch-screen display panel 123A and the
customer's LCD display panel 123B.
[0114] As shown in FIG. 7C, a produce item of a particular type is
placed on the convex weigh surface 111C during weighing operations.
The cashier then selects the type of produce from the LCD-based
touch-screen display screen 123A, and its price is automatically
entered into the system, and then the electronic weigh scale
subsystem 122 automatically measures the weight of the produce item
on the convex weigh surface 111C, and displays the total weight and
price of the measured produce item on the cashier's LCD
touch-screen display panel 123A and the customer's LCD display
panel 123B.
[0115] While digital imaging and laser scanning embodiments of the
POS-based system have been disclosed, it is understood that
alternative methods employing a combination of such techniques can
be used to implement such functions within the system.
[0116] Several modifications to the illustrative embodiments have
been described above. It is understood, however, that various other
modifications to the illustrative embodiment will readily occur to
persons with ordinary skill in the art. All such modifications and
variations are deemed to be within the scope of the accompanying
Claims.
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